Inspiring cowboy buckles up for the ride of his life

When Kevin Armstrong straps onto the back of a steer and busts out of the chute at the first Mount Isa Indigenous Rodeo Championships on Thursday night, his grandfather will be front of mind.

Young Mount Isa cowboy Kevin Armstrong, 11, will compete in front of a packed crowd at next week’s rodeo championships in the Queensland mining town. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

When Kevin Armstrong straps on to the back of a steer and busts out of the chute at the inaugural Mount Isa Indigenous Rodeo Championships on Thursday night, his grandfather will be front of mind.

It was his grandfather, an ace cattle station stockman, who inspired the 11-year-old to get into the sport and taught him the ropes.

Kevin, who has been building his credentials as a cowboy for about a year, has in turn become an inspiration for his younger brother Markus, 8, who will join the family tradition and take part in the Indigenous rodeo.

The Mount Isa brothers have both entered in the poddy calf ride and will compete in front of a packed crowd for the curtain-­raiser to the biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere.

For the first time, next weekend’s rodeo will include an Indigenous rodeo ahead of the main event.

It’s already the talk of the north, where the feats of horsemanship, toughness and bravery by Aboriginal stockmen have ­become legend.

Mount Isa Rodeo chief executive Natalie Flecker said Aboriginal people had a long association with the rodeo.

“We know that Indigenous people have a really great foundation with stock and the land and the skills that go along with rodeo,” she said.

“They’ve been involved in our event since 1959, when they used to walk the stock from Carendotta Station to Kalkadoon Park.”

Ms Flecker said the inspiration behind the Indigenous Rodeo Championships was to create ­opportunities for aspiring cowboys, and several riders this year would compete in both events.

“The Indigenous Championships were created really to provide visibility for Indigenous competitors and confidence to be able to compete in the Mount Isa arena and go on to compete in the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo as part of that as well,” she said.

More than 80 riders from Indigenous communities across Queensland have entered the championships, which, like the main rodeo, feature a bareback bronc ride, saddle bronc ride, bull ride, barrel races, steer ride, roping and steer wrestling.

The Mount Isa Rodeo itself, held on Friday and Saturday, will have a record 956 entries competing for more than $300,000 in prizemoney, making it the richest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere. It’s not only the money that is up for grabs but the coveted belt buckles presented to the winners of each category.

Started in 1959, the Mount Isa Rodeo has become a key feature on the Australian Professional Rodeo Association national circuit and is the major event each year in the northwest Queensland mining town.

Mount Isa’s population of 20,000 is expected to more than double as a crowd of 30,000 from across the country makes the trek to watch the spectacle, camping in tents, utes and caravans and packing out the town’s hotels.

Rodeo stars Fred Osman and Darren Brandenburg were part of a recent tour through the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York communities of Doomadgee, Normanton, Napranum, Weipa, Bamaga and Hopevale to spread the word and recruit competitors.

The rodeo was created in partnership with the local Mona Aboriginal Corporation to inspire Indigenous cowboys to get involved in the sport.

“Some of Australia’s most legendary bull-riders and bronco-busters are Indigenous and we know there’s a huge amount of talent across Australia,” Mona Aboriginal Corporation chairman Patrick Cooke said.

“The wonderful thing about rodeo in Australia is how it brings communities together from all across the Gulf, the Cape and outback Queensland. This inaugural rodeo roadshow will talk to communities and show the pathways and opportunities that rodeo can provide for young riders.”